Patti Smith on the Night That Changed Her Life
It was 1976, the bicentennial year marking the celebration of the American Revolution. We were touring Horses, moving boldly into the future. It was a lively era, spending time with William Burroughs in his Bowery bunker, watching Television perform at CBGB, and imagining a chaotic future with my brother Todd while traveling across America with a rock ’n’ roll band.
Despite the country’s significant struggles—Vietnam’s disgrace, racial injustice, and gender discrimination—we celebrated America’s cultural achievements like rock ’n’ roll, jazz, activism, abstract expressionism, and the Beat movement. In that moment, I felt empowered and believed deeply in our purpose.
Touring the West Coast with a Unique Company
While touring the West Coast, our band included Lenny Kaye on guitar, Jay Dee Daugherty on drums, Ivan Král on bass, and Richard Sohl on keyboards. We were joined by Paul Getty and the French actress Maria Schneider.
Maria, known for her roles in The Passenger and Last Tango in Paris, had striking black eyes and unruly dark hair, often seen wearing a white shirt and black tie like a reflection of the times. Paul Getty, grandson of a wealthy oil magnate and survivor of a notorious kidnapping in Italy, was introduced to me by William Burroughs. Paul had wild red hair, freckled skin, and eyes similar to mine, slightly cast.
"William Burroughs had introduced him to me, a pale acolyte, the youngest passing through his portal of saints."
Paul’s presence added a layer of depth to our journey, blending the worlds of art, privilege, and counterculture in a way that felt both surreal and inspiring.